Miss Black Tennessee USA 2008
Duanisha Lashan Mathews

The Miss Black Tennessee Scholarship Organization is proud to announce the crowing of Duanisha Lashan Mathews as the new Miss Black Tennessee USA 2008. This walk marks her first steps into a journey that will take her across the state of Tennessee and beyond as she advances to the Miss Black USA national competition in June 2009.

Mathews, 23, a native of Nashville, is a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University in the physical education program where she also received a bachelors of science degree in health and human performance. While at MTSU, she has served as a student ambassador and made the dean's list for three consecutive years. She will spend the next year of her reign increasing awareness and community involvement towards her platform, "Y.E.A.," an acronym for "Youth Empowerment in the Arts." Along with the title, Mathews received a $1500 scholarship from the Miss Black Tennessee Scholarship Organization among numerous other gifts and prizes. Kristen Herring passed the crown to Mathews shortly after taking her final walk as Miss Black Tennessee 2007.

The first runner-up Casme Barnes is a student at Tennessee State University. Second place went to Ashley Vann (Vanderbilt) of Memphis and third place to Chameka Mayes (University of Phoenix) of Memphis while Katara Grissom (Fisk) of Nashville placed fourth.

Local TV personality Allison Hatcher and comedian Akintunde dazzled the audience as contestants from across the state competed for the coveted title of Miss Black Tennessee USA. The judging panel included Kevin Dyson, Lisa Quigley, Larry Hale and Terrance Hurd.